I was informed that General Knox had divided his forces into three parts, one of which had engaged General Fourie and Commandant Prinsloo, near Bethlehem.

We had given the enemy a good beating, but had lost two men in the affair.

I regret to say that one of them was that clever officer, Vice-Commandant Ignatius du Preeij.

He was a man whom every burgher loved, for he was goodness personified.

The second of General Knox's division had set out in the direction of Heilbron, whilst the third had pursued General Philip Botha along the Liebenbergsvlei.[78] This division had attempted to mislead General Botha by all sorts of tricks, but on January the 3rd he had put up notices outside different farmhouses, stating that he did not like such familiarity.
On one occasion the General, with only fifty burghers, had charged one hundred and fifty of the bodyguard, and had taken one hundred and seventeen prisoners, leaving the whole of the remainder either killed or wounded.
A panic now occurred among General Knox's forces.